by Brianna Crandall — March 13, 2013—USA Technologies (USAT), provider of wireless, cashless payment and M2M (machine-to-machine) telemetry solutions for small-ticket, self-serve retailing industries, announced new agreements in recent weeks that could improve business for companies that have or are considering hosting/obtaining automated ice-vending machines, amusement or other vending machines.
USA Technologies’ agreement with Ice House America, a pioneer in automated ice-vending technology, covers the use of USAT’s ePort and ePort Connect cashless payment and telemetry services for Ice House America’s units located throughout the United States and establishes USAT as a preferred partner.
Ice House America recently created a franchise program to further expand its existing network of over 2,400 independently owned locations, which collectively produce over 1 billion pounds of ice per year. Ice House America products offer a 24/7, convenient free-standing retail ice destination offering a soft, chipped and chewable ice, which is typically offered in 20 lbs. bulk ice (direct to cooler) and 16 lb. bagged ice—always filtered, clean and made on demand, says the company.
USA Technologies’ national distribution agreement with Betson Enterprises, a division of H. Betti Industries and a worldwide distributor of coin-operated amusement and vending equipment, parts and service, is designed to expand the use of cashless payment within the $4.67 billion amusement industry, which includes video games, digital jukeboxes, electronic dart boards, ticket-redemption arcade games and prize-dispensing games.
Betson, with 12 distribution offices across the United States, represents the industry’s leading designers and manufacturers of amusement games and vending machines. Per the agreement, Betson will serve as an authorized distributor of USAT’s ePort for cashless payment and data reporting services, including exclusive use of USAT’s ePort Connect service in conjunction with a customer’s ePort.
USAT’s ePort cashless payment system is supported by its one-stop ePort Connect service—a PCI-compliant, comprehensive suite of cashless payment, telemetry and consumer engagement services specially tailored to fit the needs of the unattended, small-ticket retailing industry. ePort Connect enables self-service terminals to accept credit, debit, contactless cards and other cashless forms of payment and includes all elements of transaction processing, 24 x 7 customer service, and online tracking of cash and cashless transactions.
